International Mandela Day kicked-off

with a bang for the Tembisa Cluster

Youth Crime Prevention Desk (YCPD).

Dozens joined the YCPD as they marched

to the rhythms of the International Brass

Band, which set off from the police station

and made their way to Motheong Park,

some two and half kilometres away.

Their mission was simple; to clean up and

reclaim the park for the community.

Tembisa Cluster YCPD Chairperson

Kgomotso Mokoka said that criminals had

taken over the park and often mugged

passers-by.

Warmed-up from their brisk walk, the crew

started working immediately. One group

raked and picked up litter while the other

painted the playground. GIZ consultant

Isabel Faller was delighted with the

donation from Greenside Paint and

Hardware. “I thought they had just given

me paint, I didn’t know the colours would

be just right for a playground,” she

enthused.

Social Crime Coordinator Sergeant

Themba Maphanga seemed to be in his

element as he painted the highest rung on

the jungle gym while Constable Sizwe

Zungu and other Ekurhuleni staff painted

the bottom.

Catering was generously provided by

the Gauteng Department of Community

Safety. Confirmation of a job well done

came in the form of the community’s

children, who pounced on the newly paint-

ed jungle gym for a fun-filled afternoon.

Meanwhile, Katlehong YCPD members

had their work cut out. The school they

chose was Ilinge Secondary in Vosloorus

and was in dire need of a scrub-up – never

mind a clean up. There was graffiti every-

where and the walls were filthy.

Luckily they had help. “The principal and

the councillor for Ward 44 have been in-

credible,” Cluster Chairperson Thoko

Radebe said.

Principal Mdotyeni got a company to

sponsor the paint, she said.

The team also roped in the Ekurhuleni

authorities to supply gardening equipment

to clean up overgrown bushes in the

schoolyard and even convinced them to

donate bottled water to ward off

dehydration on the day. However, the real

heroes of the day were members of the

community members who came out in their

numbers to support the YCPD.

GIZ Technical Advisor, Allan Boesak

brought along a group of friends to join in

the clean up.

August 2014

Edition #3

Youth Crime Prevention Desk

NEWSLETTER

Tembisa (above) and Katlehong (right) YCPD members play their part on Inter-

national Mandela Day.

Marching to Madiba's magic

What does Mandela Day mean to you? Page 2

“For me Mandela Day is an inspiration. It brings back good memories of when Tata was still alive and makes me realise that I must fight for what I want. At the same time I must have a good heart and empathise with those who are less

fortunate”

- Mosa Lithakong

“Mandela Day is about

working for 67 minutes

to give back to the

dream of democracy

that Tata gave to us” -

Sibusiso Mashinini

“Madiba gave all that

time to the community,

now it is our time to

give back to the

community” - Bongiwe

Bunga

“Mandela Day

is about helping

needy people

and making

safety and

security visible”

-Xoliswa Nene

What does Mandela Day mean to you? Page 3

Katlehong North Youth Crime Prevention

Desk (YCPD) member, Kagiso Seleke was

laid to rest on 19 July. He was 24 years old.

He died on 9 July following a short illness due

to complications with his leg.

“He was my brother. Where he was, I was,”

said close friend and colleague Thabiso Moloi

at the memorial service held at a church in

Katlehong on 17 July.

The pair registered Yona Yethu Business En-

terprises together in April 2013 and were at the

verge of applying for construction tenders.

In happier times, Seleke spotted a Kendrick

Lamar inspired haircut and endured endless

teasing from his peers as a result. But he didn’t

care because he loved the hip hop artist’s

music.

Seleke joined the YCPD last October and had

already made a big enough impression to be

selected as a participant in the #EKSE! My

Voice, My Safety programme at the beginning

of 2014. Fellow participants will remember his

ready smile but his childhood friend, Itumeleng

Pilane, recalled how young Seleke was a rab-

ble-rouser.

“He was always in a fight but he never fought

with me,” Pilane said at the memorial.

An avid Pirates fan, Seleke also belonged to a

local soccer team and played regularly, “We

often argued because I support Amakhosi,”

Moloi remembered.

Those who knew him were struck by how he

was focused on the future.

“He was always supportive and encouraging.

He urged others to be patient. He would say,

‘You have to be rational about these things’,”

“Mandela Day means a lot – if it hadn’t been for him, we wouldn’t have what we have today – freedom, opportunities for further education and partnering with SAPS” -

Lawrence Ndlovu

“Mandela Day for me means

celebrating and honouring Madiba

by doing good in the community”

- Simon Mathobela

“Mandela Day is about

working for 67 minutes

to give back to the

dream of democracy

that Tata gave to us” -

Sibusiso Mashinini

So long, friend

Kagiso Seleke

“It’s about honouring Madiba.

Spending 67 minutes doing

community work wherever you

are” - Thoko Radebe

Two of our own have turned

into top television

executives right under our

noses.

Kabelo Manamela and

Valentia Ndwandwe have one

episode of their new TV show

already in the can.

Dubbed “Youth Voice”, the

programme focuses on

issues affecting young people

and is set to screen on

Ekurhuleni TV, OpenView

HD.

Manamela came up with the

concept, pitched it to the

station and they agreed to

flight the programme. In

television circles he goes by

the title of producer while

Ndwandwe is a production

manager.

However, it hasn’t all been

smooth sailing, “We are still

grappling with getting used to

the media industry. Although

we have brainstormed topics

for a whole season we are

only now shooting the second

episode.”

Topics to be covered include

what causes youths to turn to

crime, unemployment and

empowerment for young

women.

“As production manager, I

organise and line-up guests

for the show,” said the fresh-

faced Ndwandwe.

Manamela admits that before

taking up this project he

never considered pursuing a

career in media.

“I am an entrepreneur at heart

and will pursue any

opportunity that presents

itself,” he says.

Having achieved some of his

goals, he also has some

advice to share with young

people yearning for success.

“Be flexible both mentally and

physically and grab those

opportunities.”

Rabie Ridge Youth Crime Prevention

Desk (YCPD) member Nhlanhla

Mofokeng surprised many when he led a

brass band through the streets of

Tembisa on Mandela Day.

It turns out Mofokeng is a member of the

International Brass Band, a local

ensemble formed in June last year.

To mark International Mandela Day the

band steered the Tembisa Cluster YCPD

from the police station to Motheong Park

where they spent the day cleaning the

park.

“I play the French horn,” Mofokeng beamed

as he introduced his music teacher Mpho

Dlamini. Mofokeng said Dlamini wrote all

the music the band performed.

Dlamini explained that he played every

instrument in the band and that’s how he

could teach the others. “I am 100 percent

self-taught,” he added.

The band meets for practice every

Wednesday and on Fridays they have

camp - where they play from ten in the

morning until five pm. Founder of the band,

Maggie Mashiloane, said she started the

brass ensemble to help children in the

community.

“I am a widower and there are orphaned

children in the community. I wanted to give

back in a small way to ease their

circumstances,” she said.

Band member Bafana Dlamini said he was

happy to be part of the ensemble as it kept

him out of mischief and there was no risk of

him experimenting with “Nyaope”, a

dangerous concoction which includes

heroin.

Though the band is thriving, both

Mashiloane and Dlamini appealed for

donations in order to provide uniforms for

the young musicians,

“Some don’t even have shoes,” said

Dlamini.

Should you wish to hire the band to

perform at an event contact Nhlanhla

Mofokeng on 084 413 2897.

All that glitters is brass

Lights, camera, action!

August 2014

Drawing duo: Illustrators Gerhard van Wyk and Karabo Moloetsane, are working on a booklet showcasing the #EKSE! My Voice, My Safety initi-ative.

In the news

Hidden talent: Nhlanhla Mofokeng leading the International Brass Band at Mandela Day in Tembisa, 18 July.

Making a difference: Valentia Ndwandwe and Kabelo Ma-

namela are executive producers on OpenView.

#EKSE! My Voice, My Safety is

a partnership be-

tween

The Soul City Institute and frayinter-

media are service providers on this

project.

Useful FYIs for #sm4ycpd: WhatsApp group: #EK SE! My Voice, My Safety Zanele Sabela: zanelebsa-bela@gmail.com S o u l C i t y I n s t i t u t e : @SoulCityItsReal f r a y i n t e r m e d i a : @frayintermedia Gauteng Provincial YCPD: @gpyouthdesk SAPS:@SAPoliceService Gauteng Department of Com-munity Safety: @GP_CommSafety